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Seeing as it's St Patrick's Day, we continue looking back at past programme features with legendary or cult Iron figures by speaking to former captain Cliff Byrne, with the Irishman talking about his teammates during his time at the club.
BEST MATE…
There are a few I’ve kept in touch with to be honest. I’ve kept in contact with a lot of my ex-teammates over the years and feel like I could hold up a conversation with most but based on the ones I’ve spent time with outside the football bubble it would be Grant McCann, Mark Jackson, Ian Morris, Joe Murphy and Kevin Sharp.
BEST TRAINER...
In terms of application and professionalism it would be Jim Goodwin. He trained every day at full tilt, as did Ian Baraclough. If you’re looking at technique, I’d have to talk about players such as Grant McCann, Andy Keogh and Michael O’Connor.
LEADER…
Over the course of my time at the club there’s been a few. When I first joined the club, it was a relatively young squad with a lot of home grown players but within that there was Torps (Steve Torpey), Jacko (Mark Jackson) and the evergreen Beags (Peter Beagrie) who kept us all in check and lead by example. In the coming seasons, we signed Crozzer (Andy Crosby) and Hammer (Jim Goodwin) who were again great for the dressing room and the football club. All of the lads I’ve mentioned knew what it took to win games and that rubbed off on the rest of us.
UNSUNG HERO…
It’s difficult to choose an individual because everyone within any of the squads I was involved in was a valued member of the squad. I’d probably have to mention players like Eddie Nolan, Andrew Wright and Ian Morris. These lads were capable of playing in more than a couple of positions that maybe wasn’t always appreciated by the fans.
MOST SKILFUL…
Peter Beagrie for that famous chop(!) – although I don’t think that Torps would agree! There are a few ways to be deemed skilful on the pitch – Grant McCann could put the ball anywhere he wanted (I can vouch for that), while Mark Duffy, Andy Keogh and Donal McDermott all had tremendous ball skills. It’s a skill to find the back of the net on a regular basis and we had a few of those, I’m sure the fans will agree. Finally, Lee Ridley has got to be mentioned because it has to be a skill of some sort to be regularly winning free kicks when nobody has touched him.
MOST INTELLIGENT…
Scunthorpe’s very own Countdown star Neil MacKenzie! Richard Kell reckoned he knew everything as well.
LEAST INTELLIGENT…
Matt Sparrow and Steve MacLean – but at least Macca knew where the back of the net was!
JOKER…
Kevin Sharp – for a lot of what I can’t mention or what can’t ever be printed! There was also the silent assassin, Gary Hooper, who was more of a joker through actions rather than words with the aid of a pair of scissors or sock tape. The long-serving Matt Sparrow and current Kit Manager Nathan Stanton all have to be included in that bracket as well.
BEST PLAYER…
There are lots of different reasons you can be deemed the best player and here is my shortlist for a variation of different strengths that I’m sure the fans can relate to.
I’ve also got to mention Paul Hayes as well, simply based on the number of comebacks he’s had!
WORST TRAINER…
There have been a few – Ian Kilford and Steve Foster spring to mind. The winner of this title though, far out on his own, is the beast himself – Jon Parkin.
QUICKEST…
Jonathan Forte – because he had to be able to get round my elbows and forearms as well.
Scunthorpe United FC
Tuesday, 17 March 2020